Wonders of ancient India you need to visit at least once in your lifetime

There are a lot of things that have stood the test of time and then there are some that have done that style. We are talking about some ancient sites in India that we love to visit and revisit because everytime we do that, we are filled with a new sense of respect for such places. These sites have seen civilisations change, they have seen some of the biggest wars and some of the greatest moments in the history of India.

Read more: What makes the Konkan petroglyphs so unique?

Let’s take a look at some of the wonders of ancient India.

Speaking of old, the Bhimbetka rock shelters come to mind, and rightly so. The site exhibits earliest traces of human life in India. We are talking about the Stone age! Bhimbetka Rock Shelters span the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods.

This one dates back to the Mesolithic period. The petroglyphs or the geoglyphs of Konkan depict animals that went extinct long back! Kasheli, Rundhye Tali, Devache Gothane, Barsu, Devi Hasol, Jambharun, Kudopi and Ukshi in Maharashtra, and Pansaymol in Goa, are the places where these petroglyphs were discovered. There are more than 70 such sites.

More than 4400 years ago, Lothal was a bustling port town of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation. Being the only port town of the Indus Valley Civilisation, we can safely say that Lothal was economically crucial back then.

Located in Thrissur, Kerala, Kudakkallu Parambu site is more than 4000 years old. You will find this prehistoric megalithic burial site in Chermanangad. Hood stones and stone circles make-up this site of 69 megalithic monuments.

The rock-cut monuments of Ajanta and Ellora came into being more than 2500 years ago. Ajanta Caves is older than Ellora and is home to 30 rock-cut Buddhist Caves. Ellora Caves is home to the largest rock-cut Hindu cave temple – Kailasa Temple. Both sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These caves are more than 2000 years old. These caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri are located in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, and were commissioned by King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty of Odisha (Kalinga). The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri were built for the travelling Jain scholars.

More than 1500 years old, Nalanda was once a centre of learning, the oldest university in India. Nalanda was a Buddhist monastic university in the ancient Magadha Empire. It was also the world’s first residential university.